Economics It’s All About the Stuff…Sort Of

Economic and Anthropology NOT the same as in Economics Classes NOT the same as in Economics Classes Begins at more basic level Begins at more basic level Fundamentally… Fundamentally… Deals with the distribution of resources within and between societies Deals with the distribution of resources within and between societies

Resources Include items with social as well as physically utilitarian value Include items with social as well as physically utilitarian value Physically Utilitarian Items Physically Utilitarian Items Essential Resources for Survival Essential Resources for Survival Food Food Water Water Shelter Shelter Social Items Social Items Desired or Perceived Essential Items for Social Life Desired or Perceived Essential Items for Social Life Access to religion/supernatural Access to religion/supernatural Decorative items Decorative items

So Economic Anthropology Studies Systems of exchange of items Systems of exchange of items Organization of labor to acquire and exchange materials Organization of labor to acquire and exchange materials Social rules dealing with how materials can be acquired and exchanged Social rules dealing with how materials can be acquired and exchanged

3 Economic Forms of Exchange Reciprocity Reciprocity Generalized Generalized Balanced Balanced Negative Negative Redistribution Redistribution Market Exchange Market Exchange **RULE: The more people involved, the more complex the exchange system **RULE: The more people involved, the more complex the exchange system

Reciprocity Based on face-to-face or almost face-to- face communication Based on face-to-face or almost face-to- face communication As much about social relationships and building alliances as about getting materials As much about social relationships and building alliances as about getting materials Typical among and between small populations Typical among and between small populations

Generalized Reciprocity Sometimes called gift-giving Sometimes called gift-giving Presentation of material without any expectation of return Presentation of material without any expectation of return No one keeps track very closely No one keeps track very closely Important to express friendship or family Important to express friendship or family Occurs within BANDS (see foragers lecture) Occurs within BANDS (see foragers lecture)

Balanced Reciprocity Occurs between bands that have regular contact Occurs between bands that have regular contact Can be direct or indirect contact Can be direct or indirect contact Items exchanged with socially known expectations of a return gift at an appropriate time Items exchanged with socially known expectations of a return gift at an appropriate time Material exchanged builds alliances and trade networks Material exchanged builds alliances and trade networks

The Kula Ring

The Economics of Feasts Builds alliances Builds alliances Assures continued trade Assures continued trade Creates opportunity for exchange Creates opportunity for exchange Social materials Social materials Essential Resources Essential Resources Mates Mates

Two Kinds of Feasts Alliance Feast Alliance Feast Allies and friends invited Allies and friends invited Surplus goods given as gifts Surplus goods given as gifts Goods needed by allies/friends given as gifts Goods needed by allies/friends given as gifts Social “Bank account” effect Social “Bank account” effect Competitive Feast Competitive Feast Allies, friends, & rivals invited Allies, friends, & rivals invited Friends honored with gifts; support host Friends honored with gifts; support host Rivals encumbered with massive debt through gifts presented Rivals encumbered with massive debt through gifts presented

Potlatch

Redistribution Key materials moved to central authority Key materials moved to central authority Central authority then gives out materials as sees fit Central authority then gives out materials as sees fit Works well with central authority and mid- sized populations (many thousands) Works well with central authority and mid- sized populations (many thousands) Limited by the ability of central authority to control system Limited by the ability of central authority to control system In theory China is redistributive In theory China is redistributive

Market Exchange Materials evaluated against an arbitrary standard of value Materials evaluated against an arbitrary standard of value Allows long distance trade Allows long distance trade Allows effective control because of standard Allows effective control because of standard Develops with large populations Develops with large populations Substantial surpluses Substantial surpluses Specialization Specialization

Organization & Economics Deals with how people opt to extract and exchange resources Deals with how people opt to extract and exchange resources Minimally organized by age & sex Minimally organized by age & sex All societies All societies Allows maximum input of resources Allows maximum input of resources Allows predictability of resources Allows predictability of resources

Organization Can Lead To… Specialization Specialization If enough surplus some people can be freed to perform only specific tasks If enough surplus some people can be freed to perform only specific tasks Requires medium to large populations Requires medium to large populations Foundation of civilization Foundation of civilization Craft specialists Pottery, engineers, metal Record-keepers, administrators Priests/religious specialists Soldiers/police

Some Societies Regulate Wealth We don’t in America We don’t in America The more money the better The more money the better Other societies emphasize mutual support Other societies emphasize mutual support Good of community outweighs good of individual Good of community outweighs good of individual Leveling Mechanisms Leveling Mechanisms Compel wealth to be distributed to larger whole Compel wealth to be distributed to larger whole Person giving wealth earns great prestige Person giving wealth earns great prestige

Conspicuous Consumption Spending of large amount of resources for display purposes Spending of large amount of resources for display purposes America uses this often America uses this often Big Homes Big Homes Silk clothing Silk clothing Mercedes, Jaguar, BMW Mercedes, Jaguar, BMW Elaborate Jewelry Elaborate Jewelry